Polish Briefing: Solar power and CO2 emissions up in 2021 | PGE is the largest tax payer in Poland

What goes on in Poland on the 28th of July.

Ember: Solid growth in solar power and rising CO2 emissions from electricity generation in H1-2021

In Poland, a little change in fossil power output (predominantly coal) with a solid growth in solar power offset by lower imports and less wind could be seen since before the pandemic, according to Ember’s report.

“In H1-2021 Poland’s electricity demand bounced back vs. H1-2020 and was higher (+2%) than H1-2019. Fossil power was 2% higher (+1.5TWh) in H1-2021 than before the pandemic (H1-2019). Modest renewables growth was offset by lower net imports (-2TWh) and therefore rising demand was met with fossil fuels. The rise was roughly evenly split between coal and gas. Electricity generation from renewable sources increased 13% (1TWh) between H1-2019 and H1-2021, driven by a doubling in solar power output after 2.5GW of capacity was added in 2020. However solar still contributes just 3% of electricity production. Growth in solar was partially offset by declines in wind output. Wind capacity additions were modest (0.4GW) in 2020, and continued to be constrained by Poland’s “10h” rule. Consequently, new wind capacity was insufficient to offset worse weather conditions. Overall, CO2 emissions from electricity generation were 2% higher in H1-2021 than the same period before the pandemic (H1-2019),” the Ember report says.

PGE is the largest tax payer in Poland

Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) reported that last year it was the largest tax payer in Poland. According to the analysis carried out by Business Insider Polska, the company paid nearly PLN 11 billion in 2020. It was over 50 percent higher than in the previous year, the press release reads.

“For years, the PGE Group has been one of the largest payers of various types of taxes and fees in Poland. Every year, multibillion amounts contribute to the state budget, giving a growth impulse to the Polish economy, while the taxes we pay to the communes where we operate constitute a very important part of local government budgets and contribute to the development of local communities. The PGE Group is a company for which economic patriotism and corporate social responsibility are very important. We are one of the largest employers in the country, we ensure energy security and support the state budget. It is very important for us that our activity strengthens the Polish economy,” Wojciech Dąbrowski, president of Polska Grupa Energetyczna, said.